Latest Balmoral Newsletter

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Latest Balmoral Newsletter

The latest MV Balmoral Newsletter has been emailed to all those who signed up for it via the MV Balmoral website. To sign up for future editions just enter your email address at the bottom of the home page on the website.

The current newsletter contains the following progress to date report:

The Balmoral Strategy Group has set up a company with charitable aims, MV Balmoral Fund Ltd, to lead on the fundraising campaign to finance dry- docking, refit and establish working capital for a new operating company dedicated to the operation of MV Balmoral. Although operating under the auspices of a separate company, MV Balmoral's operation will dovetail with that of PS Waverley' where practicable to do so.

The operation of MV Balmoral differs from that of PS Waverley and it is felt local management will ensure the ship is given the best possible chance of success in the future. The new operating company would charter the ship from the owning company Waverley Steam Navigation.

On 31 August we were delighted to welcome aboard seventy five Paddle Steamer Preservation Society members and friends, including representatives from Wessex, London and Northern Branches. The Balmoral Strategy Group presented an update on the campaign to return the ship to operation. We were delighted to be joined once more by the Jig Mad Wolf Ceilidh and Barn Dance Band who provided entertainment following the meeting. The band had attended the ship during the Bristol Harbour Festival.

21 September saw the ship receive a visit from the Bristol Civic Society who were appraised of the ships history, firmly rooted in Bristol, and the campaign to return what is now Bristol’s last seagoing ship to operation. The 35 visitors appreciated seeing work in progress, and were enthusiastic in ideas and encouragement.

Sign up today and keep up to date with the Balmoral appeal. A donation form can be downloaded from the website at mvbalmoral.org.uk.

Paul Semple

The Society

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) is Britain's longest established, largest and most successful steamship preservation group.
A registered charity founded in 1959, we have over 3000 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain.
Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aims
i) to preserve paddle steamers in sailing condition
ii) to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritage
iii) to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

Our Ships

Flagship of our fleet is Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1947 Waverley was gifted to the Society for just £1. As well as operating on her native Clyde each summer she visits other coastal areas around the UK during the spring and autumn each year.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's only operational coal-fired paddle steamer. Built in 1924 to sail on the River Dart she was purchased by the Society in 1967. From 1985 until 2012 she sailed the Thames and Medway. In 2013 Kingswear Castle returned to the Dart where she now operates public sailings during the summer season.

The society is composed of five branches: Scottish, London & Home Counties, Bristol Channel, Wessex & Dart and North England - all of which help raise money to keep our paddle steamers sailing.

The Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch was formed in 1969 by Douglas McGowan, now our Honorary Branch President. In November 1973 Douglas was invited to attend a meeting with CalMac which resulted in Paddle Steamer Waverley being gifted to the PSPS for £1! It was then on 8th August 1974 that the PSPS took ownership of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and her second career in preservation had begun. Since 1974 the Scottish Branch has been directly linked to supporting Waverley.

The Scottish Branch is proud of its achievements. We are an active and forward thinking branch with a thriving membership of over 800 - we are proud to be the branch which secured an operational future for Waverley. Our members are regularly involved with voluntary work which helps ensure Waverley continues to sail. During the summer sailing season we help raise funds through the Society's Grand Draw and our annual fundraising cruise on Waverley. The Branch meets in Glasgow each month during the non-sailing season (October - April) and we extend an invitation to join the Society and indeed join the Scottish Branch.

Tuesday, 24 September 2013